CONNECTABLE DRIVESHAFT SYSTEM

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to mechanical devices useful to remove abnormal deposits from within a patient's vessels. More particularly, this invention relates to a system for removably connecting the driveshafts for such mechanical devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various medical devices are known for removing abnormal deposits from corporal channels. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134 entitled TRANSLUMINAL MICRODISSECTION DEVICE, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,509 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVAL OF ENCLOSED ABNORMAL DEPOSITS, describe a rotating mechanical system for removing plaque from an artery. U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,134 teaches the use of an ellipsoidal cutting head, or burr, coated with abrasive material such as tiny diamond chips. The cutting head rotates at such a tip velocity that the cutting head generates microscopic particles (on the order of 5 microns or less) and leaves behind a tissue base having a smooth appearance on the surface of the wall of the vessel from which an abnormal deposit has been removed.

[0003] Currently available rotating mechanical systems, such as that described above, have a permanent connection between the burr/driveshaft assembly and the advancer turbine assembly portions thereof, and each such system has a burr having one particular diameter, or size. Since more than one size burr is required in most atherectomy procedures, it is thus necessary to substitute a total system for each successive sized burr required. Also, such systems inherently involve the intimate interaction of the burr/driveshaft assembly portion of any rotating mechanical system with the patient's blood. Due to blood contamination and transmittal of disease considerations, and due to the complexity of the device, this precludes the ability to resterilize and reuse the device on more than one patient.

[0004] In EP-A-0 244 058 there is disclosed a motor drive unit for use with an atherectomy device which has a flexible drive cable and a finger operated member for advancing and retracting the drive cable. The drive unit comprises a motor, a power supply and a drive spline driven by the motor and adapted to make connection with a cooperative hollow shaft extension provided on the drive cable.

[0005] There is a definite need for a rotating mechanical device which is capable of allowing easy connection and disconnection between the burr/driveshaft assembly portion and the advancer turbine assembly portion to avoid the inherent necessity of having to dispose of the entire combined burr/driveshaft advancer turbine assembly each time a different burr is required on the same patient. Furthermore, general cost containment considerations also dictate the prudence and overall necessity of reducing the cost of each procedure which may be carried out utilizing any rotating mechanical device. The current invention addresses that mandate and provides a good and useful alternative to available rotating mechanical devices which can be used at lower overall cost on a per procedure basis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is a rotating mechanical device as defined in claims 1 and 7.

[0007] The present invention represents an improved rotating mechanical device wherein burrs are attached to a driveshaft assembly which rotates at high speed, driven by an advancer turbine assembly. In the improvement provided for in the present invention, the aforementioned driveshaft assembly is provided with a quick connect/disconnect feature allowing for the easy removal of the burr/driveshaft assembly portion of the device from the advancer turbine assembly portion of the device, preferably at a point close to the advancer turbine assembly. This connect/disconnect point lies outside of the patient's body and beyond that portion of the burr/driveshaft assembly which normally comes in contact with a patient's body fluids.

[0008] In one embodiment the present invention provides for a connectable/disconnectable driveshaft featuring symmetrical mating interlocking teeth on both the proximal and distal portions of the connect/disconnect joint. In this embodiment the slide lock tube is a close fitting tube which slides over the inter-locking teeth to create a complete joint, which completely locked joint can be loaded in both the rotational and axial directions.

[0009] The parts making up the mechanism are formed from thin-walled tubing, creating a resultant joint that is both very small in diameter and also hollow. The novel hollow feature of the mated joint of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention accommodates the necessary guidewire through the center of the connection, and the small diameter of the connection (e.g., about .045 inches O.D.) allows undisturbed flow of infusate around the outside of the connection.

[0010] An additional advantageous feature of the connection provided for according to the present invention is that it is extremely lightweight, and symmetrical, and thus has no significant impact on the inertial performance of the rotating mechanical device.

[0011] Also provided for use in conjunction with the connectable/disconnectable driveshaft of the present invention is a catheter which can itself be easily connected/disconnected at the location of the driveshaft connection point by means of a Luer-type or similar fluid tight fitting. Disconnection of the catheter by this means allows easy access to the driveshaft connection/disconnection point.

[0012] The construction and obvious advantages of the present invention will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 

Fig. 1 is a view of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the various components in their disconnected position;

Fig. 2 is another view of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the distal and proximal shaft ends being manually connected;

Fig. 3 is yet another view of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the two driveshaft ends in their connected position;

Fig. 4 is a view of the connected driveshaft of the present invention showing the positioning of the slide lock tube;

Fig. 5 is another view of the connected driveshaft system of the present invention showing the connected driveshaft with the slide lock tube in a closed position and the rubber slide tube grip removed;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the proximal end of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the lock tooth and guide tube;

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of the distal end of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the distal lock tooth;

Fig. 8 is another view of an alternative embodiment of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention showing the tube interlock in the disconnected position;

Fig. 9 is another view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the interlock in the connected position and the slide tube in place;

Fig. 10 is a detailed substantially cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the proximal end of a disconnectable catheter which may be used in conjunction with the disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the catheter proximal end shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 12 is an oblique, plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view along the line 13-13;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along the line 14-14; and

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional longitudinal view of the embodiment of Fig. 12 in a locked position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, comprises a driveshaft proximal section 10 and a distal section 12. The proximal section 10 is provided with a proximal lock tooth 14, a proximal stop 16 and a guide tube 18. The distal section is provided with a distal lock tooth 20, a distal stop 22 and a slide-lock tube 24, to which is removably attached a slide tube grip 26. The distal section 12 of the arrangement is also provided with a catheter sheath 28 having a Luer or similar type fitting 30 on the proximal end thereof, which fitting 28 mates with the companion fitting 32 located on the distal end of an advancer assembly 34. The fitting 32 concentrically encompasses the distal end of the proximal portion of the driveshaft proximal to proximal section 10, while catheter sheath 28 concentrically encompasses the portion of the driveshaft distal to distal section 12.

[0015] In Fig. 2, the various components of the proximal end 10 and distal end 12 of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention are again set forth with the relative position of the operator's fingers 36 being illustrated. The respective distal and proximal sections of the device shown in the disconnected position.

[0016] The respective proximal section 10 and distal section 12 of the disconnected driveshaft system of the present invention are shown in Fig. 3 with the respective guide tube 18 inserted into the distal end tip and the respective proximal lock tooth 14 engaged with the distal lock tooth 20. The device is shown in the connected position without the slide-lock tube 24 in the locked position. The respective operator's fingers 36 are shown grasping the distal end and the removable slide tube grip in preparation for sliding the slide-lock tube 24 proximally into the locked position over the engaged and mated proximal lock tooth 14 and distal lock tooth 20.

[0017] In Fig. 4 the disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention is illustrated showing the proximal end 10 and the proximal stop 16, with the slide-lock tube 24 in the closed position and the fingers 36 of one of the operator's hands grasping the handle 37 of the removable slide tube grip 26 in preparation for removing same. Such removal would be done prior to connecting the catheter 28 Luer end 30 to the mating Luer end 32 on the advancer assembly 34.

[0018] Slide tube grip 26 preferably has a peel-off feature, such as a slit (not shown), so it can be removed from the connected assembly. Once the tube grip 26 is removed, such as shown in Fig. 5, the disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention can be seen where the proximal end 10 and the distal end 12 are connected the slide-lock tube 24 in the locked position resting against the proximal stop 16.

[0019] The disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention can be disengaged by moving the slide-lock tube 24 distally toward the distal end 12 until slide-lock tube 24 touches stop 22. Then sections 14 and 20, as shown in Fig. 1, can be separated.

[0020] A detail of one embodiment of the proximal end 10 of the disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6, with the guide tube 18, the proximal lock tooth 14 and the welded connection 38 between the proximal end 10 and the driveshaft 40 illustrated. Similarly, in Fig. 7, the distal end 12 of the disconnectable driveshaft system of the present invention is shown with the distal lock tooth 20, the laser weld connection 38 between the distal end 12 and the driveshaft 40 are illustrated.

[0021] Figs. 8 and 9 are detailed views of an alternative embodiment of the connectable driveshaft system of the present invention which does not rely upon the use of a guide tube but rather shows the proximal end 10 and the distal end 12, the proximal lock tooth 14 engaged with the distal lock tooth 20 and the slide-lock tube 24 in the closed position. As illustrated further in Fig. 8, which represents a partially disconnected view of the alternative embodiment, the proximal end 10 relies upon the extension of the proximal driveshaft 40 through the proximal lock tooth 14 to be inserted into the distal end 12 prior to engagement with the distal lock tooth 20. In this view the slide-lock tube 24 is shown in the open position. Fig. 9 shows the same arrangement with the slide-lock tube 24 in the closed position.

[0022] Figs. 10 and 11 each show a detailed view of one embodiment of a disconnectable catheter end 28 showing the distal end of the Luer type fitting 30 and the distal end opening 42 for the admission of the driveshaft which extends through the body of the catheter 28.

[0023] Generally speaking, the overall dimensions of the preferred quick connect/disconnect joint of the present invention will be in the order of approximately two inches or less from end to end when the two mating interlocking teeth are joined and the slide-lock tube is slid into the locked position.

[0024] The overall outside diameter of the slide-lock tube utilized to lock the two mating interlocking teeth together will be about 1.143 mm (0.045 inches) O.D. and will generally be formed in such a manner as to provide a generally ovoid interior cross section over at least a portion of the said slide-lock tube so as to create a sufficient amount of interior friction between the interior walls of the slide-lock tube and the exterior walls of the joined interlocking teeth portion of the joint to prevent the slide-lock tube from moving unless sufficient force is applied to slide it into the unlocked position.

[0025] In the alternate embodiment of the slide-lock tube depicted in Figs. 8 and 9, for example, the respective ends or center section of the slide-lock tube have been formed in such a manner as to render them slightly ovoid in cross-section, such that the ovoid end sections will have an O.D. in at least one dimension of approximately 0.889 mm (0.035 inches).

[0026] Figs. 12 to 15 detail another embodiment of the connector system according to the invention. This connector design is significant in that it connects completely together to a locked state in one smooth axial motion without the need for indexing for alignment of interlocking geometries.

[0027] Connector 101 comprises advancer side connector 103 and driveshaft side connector 105. Advance side connector 103 has a proximal portion 107 that connects to the advancer (not shown), recess 109, and male connector member 111. The distal portion of male connector 111 is oval, as is shown in the cross-section in Fig. 13. Driveshaft connector 105 comprises collet 113, distal portion 115, which is attached to the distally-extending driveshaft, and slide member 117. As shown in the cross-section in Fig. 14, distal portion 115 has an oval cross-section lumen 119 while slide member 117 has a substantially circular cross-section.

[0028] In the connected state shown in Fig. 15, torque is transmitted via the connector 101 by means of the oval cross-sectional tube 111 profile on the advancer side connector 103 which engages the oval cross-section lumen 119 on the driveshaft side. The non-uniform cross-sections prevent relative movement between tubes, therefore enabling the transmission of torque. These sections were constructed by placing a specific diameter mandrel inside the tubes to control geometry and squeezing down on the outside of the tube with micrometering until the controlling mandrel was engaged. The mandrel sizes for the prototypes were 0.254 mm (0.010") and 0.483 mm (0.19") for the sections (13-13) and (14-14), respectively. One skilled in the art would appreciate that these dimensions can vary within useful ranges.

[0029] Axial retention is gained by means of the collet 113 geometry on the driveshaft side connector 105 engaging the recess 109 area on the advancer side connector 103. The collet 113 is flexible due to the slits 121 on either side of the collet 113, so that it can snap over the "Bullet" geometry of the male connector 111. It is then restrained from movement or locked in place by means of the slide tube 117 placed over the collet 113.

[0030] The slide tube geometry is such that it provides adequate friction on the driveshaft side connector, when in the "unlocked" position, to force the collet 113 over the "bullet" and into the recess area on the advancer side connector 103, before this friction is overcome to move the slide tube over the collet 113 into the "locked" position. This frictional effect is obtained by putting a slight squeeze on the slide tube in the same manner described previously. The mandrel diameter used for the slide tube was 0.762 mm (0.030"). Again, one skilled in the art would appreciate that this dimension can vary according to usage.

[0031] The materials of construction of the interlocking teeth and the close fitting slide-lock tube portions of the quick connect/disconnect means of the present invention will generally be constructed of appropriate physiologically acceptable metal such as stainless steel or other biocompatable materials. Stainless steel, such as 304 stainless steel, is particularly suitable.

DIRECTORY
No.	Element
10	driveshaft proximal section
12	driveshaft distal section
14	proximal lock tooth
16	proximal stop
18	guide tube
20	distal lock tooth
22	distal stop
24	slide-lock tooth
26	slide tube grip
28	catheter sheath
30	fluid tight fitting
32	reciprocal, companion fitting
34	advancer assembly
36	operator's finger(s)
37	handle
38	welded connection
40	driveshaft
42	distal opening
101	connector
103	advancer side connector
105	driveshaft connector
107	connector proximal portion
109	recess
111	male connector member
113	collet
115	connector member distal portion
117	slide member
119	connector member lumen
121	collet slit

Claims

1. A rotating mechanical device capable of differentially cutting abnormal deposits from within a patient's vessels comprising a burr/driveshaft assembly connected to an advancer turbine assembly (34) using a quick connect/disconnect means, characterized in that the quick connect/disconnect means comprises a pair of symmetrical mating and interlocking teeth (14, 20) and a close fitting slide-lock tube (24), which slide-lock tube can move in such a manner as to permit it to slide over the mated inter-locking teeth to form a complete joint which can be loaded in both the rotational and axial directions.

2. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 1, wherein the symmetrical mating interlocking teeth (14, 20) which form the proximal and distal ends of the quick connect/disconnect means are formed from thin walled tubing.

3. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 1, wherein the symmetrical mating interlocking teeth (14, 20) which form the quick connect/disconnect means are attached to the ends of the burr/driveshaft assembly portion of the device and the advancer turbine assembly portion of the device, respectively, by means of laser welds.

4. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 1, wherein the slide-lock tube (24) is provided with a removable slide tube grip (26) to allow an operator to easily move the slide-lock tube into the locked position.

5. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 2, wherein each of the mating interlocking teeth which form the proximal and distal ends of the quick connect/disconnect means are also provided with a stop means (16, 22) to limit the travel of the slide-lock tube (24).

6. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 1, wherein
the distal end of the connectable/disconnectable driveshaft (12) is also provided with a catheter surrounding the driveshaft and having at the end thereof a fluid tight type fitting, and
the proximal end of the connectable/disconnectable driveshaft (10) is provided with a mating fluid tight type fitting which is located at the end of the advancer assembly (34) and surrounds the proximal end of the driveshaft, such that when the two interlocking mating teeth (14, 20) are connected and the slide-lock tube (24) placed in the locked position and after removal of the removable slide tube grip (26), the fluid tight fitting at the end of the catheter may be slid forward towards the end of the advancer turbine assembly and mated with the companion fluid tight fitting located at that point, thereby forming a continuous enclosure surrounding the entire driveshaft from the turbine assembly to the point where the burr/driveshaft assembly emerges from the end of the catheter inside the patient's body.

7. A rotating mechanical device capable of differentially cutting abnormal deposits from within a patient's vessels comprising a burr/driveshaft assembly connected to an advancer turbine assembly (34) using a quick connect/disconnect means, characterized in that the quick connect-disconnect means comprises:

a proximal member (103) having proximal and distal sections, the proximal section (107) being connected to the advancer and the distal section forming an insertion member (111),

a distal member (105) having proximal and distal sections, the proximal section having an opening and the distal section (115) comprising a lumen (119) in fluid communication with said opening and a slide member (117),

wherein the insertion member (111) is received into said opening and the slide member (117) can be moved proximally to retain said insertion member within said opening.

8. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 7, wherein the proximal section of the distal member (105) has one or more slits extending distally from said opening, and edges around said opening are received in a recess area of the proximal member.

9. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 7, wherein the quick connect/disconnect means comprises a pair or reciprocally fitting ovoid members (103, 105) and a close fitting slide-lock tube (117), which slide-lock tube slides over joined ovoid members to form a complete joint which can be loaded in both the rotational and axial directions.

10. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 9, wherein the ovoid members (103, 105) which form the proximal and distal ends of the quick connect/disconnect means are formed from thin walled tubing.

11. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 9, wherein the reciprocally fitting ovoid members (103, 105) are attached to the ends of the burr/driveshaft assembly portion of the device and the advancer turbine assembly portion (34) of the device, respectively, by means of laser welds.

12. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 9, wherein the slide-lock tube (117) is provided with a removable slide tube grip to allow an operator to easily move the slide-lock tube into the locked position.

13. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 9, wherein each of the reciprocally fitting ovoid members (103, 105) which form the proximal and distal ends of the quick connect/disconnect means are also provided with a stop means to limit the travel of the slide-lock tube.

14. The rotating mechanical device of Claim 9, wherein
the distal end of the connectable/disconnectable driveshaft is also provided with a catheter surrounding the driveshaft having at the end thereof a fluid tight type fitting, and
the proximal end of the connectable/disconnectable driveshaft is provided with a mating fluid tight type fitting which is located at the end of the advancer assembly and surrounds the proximal end of the driveshaft, such that when the two ovoid members are connected and the slide-lock means is placed in the locked position and after removal of the removable slide grip, the fluid tight fitting at the end of the catheter may be slid forward towards the end of the advancer turbine assembly and mated with a companion fluid tight fitting located at that point, thereby forming a continuous enclosure surrounding the entire driveshaft from the turbine assembly to the point where the burr/driveshaft assembly emerges from the end of the catheter inside the patient's body.

Ansprüche

1. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung, die in der Lage ist, abnorme Ablagerungen innerhalb eines Gefäßes einen Patienten differentiell herauszuschneiden, versehen mit einer Schneidkopf/Antriebswellen-Baugruppe, die unter Verwendung einer lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung mit einer Vorschub/Turbinen-Baugruppe (34) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die lösbare Schnellverbindungsanordnung zwei symmetrische, zusammenpassende und ineinandergreifende Zähne (14, 20) und ein eng passendes Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen (24) aufweist, wobei das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen sich so bewegen kann, dass es über die zusammenpassenden ineinandergreifenden Zähne geschoben werden kann, um eine vollständige Verbindung zu bilden, dies sowohl in der Rotationsrichtung als auch der axialen Richtung belastet werden kann.

2. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, bei welcher die symmetrischen, zusammenpassenden, ineinandergreifenden Zähne (14, 20), die das proximale und das distale Ende der lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung bilden, aus dünnwandigem Röhrenmaterial gebildet sind.

3. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, bei welcher die symmetrischen zusammenpassenden ineinandergreifenden Zähne (14, 20), welche die lösbare Schnellverbindungsanordnung bilden, mittels Laserschweißverbindungen an den Enden des schneidkopf-/antriebswellenseitigen Teils der Vorrichtung und des vorschub-/turbinenseitigen Teils der Vorrichtung angebracht sind.

4. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, bei welcher das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen (24) mit einem abnehmbaren Schieberöhrchengriff (26) versehen ist, um einem Bediener zu ermöglichen, das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen in einfacher Weise in die verriegelte Position zu bewegen.

5. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 2, bei welcher jeder der zusammenpassenden ineinandergreifenden Zähne, welche die proximalen und distalen Enden der lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung bilden, ferner mit einer Stoppanordnung (16, 22) versehen ist, um die Bewegung des Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchens (24) zu begrenzen.

6. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 1, bei welcher
das distale Ende (12) der anschließbaren/lösbaren Antriebswelle ferner mit einem Katheter versehen ist, der die Antriebswelle umgibt und an seinem Ende ein fluiddichtes Anschlussstück aufweist, und
das proximale Ende (10) der anschließbaren/lösbaren Antriebswelle mit einem zusammenpassenden fluiddichten Anschlussstück versehen ist, welches an dem Ende der Vorschubbaugruppe (24) vorgesehen ist und das proximale Ende der Antriebswelle umgibt, sodass wenn die beiden ineinandergreifenden zusammenpassenden Zähne (14, 20) verbunden wurden und das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen (24) in die Verriegelungsposition gebracht ist und nachdem der abnehmbare Schieberöhrchengriff (26) abgenommen wurde, das fluiddichte Anschlussstück an dem Ende des Katheters nach vorne in Richtung auf das Ende der Vorschub/Turbinen-Baugruppe geschoben werden kann und mit dem entsprechenden fluiddichten Anschlussstück, welche an dieser Stelle plaziert ist, zusammengefügt werden kann, wodurch eine kontinuierliche Umhüllung gebildet wird, welche die gesamte Antriebswelle von der Turbinenanordnung bis zu der Stelle umgibt, wo die Schneidkopf/Antriebswellenanordnung aus dem Ende des Katheters im Inneren des Körpers des Patienten austritt.

7. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung, die in der Lage ist, abnorme Ablagerungen aus einem Gefäß eines Patienten differentiell herauszuschneiden, versehen mit einer Schneidkopf/Antriebswellenanordnung, die unter Verwendung einer lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung mit einer Vorschub/Turbinen-Baugruppe (34) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die lösbare Schnellverbindungsanordnung versehen ist mit:

einem proximalen Bauteil (103) mit einem proximalen und einem distalen Abschnitt, wobei der proximale Abschnitt (107) mit dem Vorschub verbunden ist und der distale Abschnitt ein Einführbauteil (111) bildet,

einem distalen Bauteil (105) mit einem proximalen und einem distalen Abschnitt, wobei der proximale Abschnitt eine Öffnung aufweist und der distale Abschnitt (115) ein Lumen (119) in Fluidverbindung mit der Öffnung sowie ein Schiebebauteil (117) aufweist,

wobei das Einführbauteil (111) in der Öffnung aufgenommen wird, und das Schiebebauteil (117) proximal verlagert werden kann, um das Einführbauteil innerhalb der Öffnung zu halten.

8. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 7, bei welcher der proximale Abschnitt des distalen Bauteils (105) einen oder mehrere Schlitze aufweist, die sich distal von der Öffnung erstrecken, wobei Ränder um die Öffnung in einem Ausnehmungsbereich des proximalen Bauteils aufgenommen werden.

9. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 7, bei welcher die lösbare Schnellverbindungsanordnung zwei reziprok zusammenpassende ovale Bauteile (103, 105) sowie ein eng passendes Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen (117) aufweist, welches über die verbundenen ovalen Bauteile gleited, um eine vollständige Verbindung zu bilden, die sowohl in Rotationsrichtung als auch in Axialrichtung belastet werden kann.

10. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 9, bei welcher die ovalen Bauteile (103, 105), welche das proximale und das distale Ende der lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung bilden, aus dünnwandigem Röhrenwerkstoff gebildet sind.

11. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 9, bei welcher die reziprok zusammenpassenden ovalen Bauteile (103, 105) mittels Laserschweißverbindungen an den Enden des schneidkopf/antriebswellenseitigen Teils der Vorrichtung und des vorschub/turbinenseitigen Teils der Vorrichtung angebracht sind.

12. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 9, bei welcher das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen (117) mit einem abnehmbaren Schieberöhrchengriffversehen ist, um es einem Bediener zu ermöglichen, das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen in einfacher Weise in die Verriegelungsposition zu bewegen.

13. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 9, bei welcher jedes der reziprok zusammenpassenden ovalen Bauteile (103, 105), die das proximale und das distale Ende der lösbaren Schnellverbindungsanordnung bilden, ferner mit einer Anschlaganordnung versehen ist, um den Bewegungsweg des Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchens zu begrenzen.

14. Rotierende mechanische Vorrichtung gemäß Anspruch 9, bei welcher
das distale Ende der anschließbaren/lösbaren Antriebswelle ferner mit einem Katheter versehen ist, der die Antriebswelle umgibt und an seinem Ende ein fluiddichtes Anschlussstück aufweist, und
das proximale Ende der anschließbaren/lösbaren Antriebswelle mit einem zusammenpassenden fluiddichten Anschlussstück versehen ist, welches an dem Ende der Vorschubbaugruppe vorgesehen ist und das proximale Ende der Antriebswelle umgibt, sodass wenn die zwei ovalen Bauteile verbunden werden und das Schiebeverriegelungsröhrchen in die Verriegelungsposition gebracht ist und nachdem der abnehmbare Schieberöhrchengriff abgenommen wurde, das fluiddichte Anschlussstück an dem Ende des Katheters nach vorne in Richtung auf das Ende der Vorschub/Turbinen-Baugruppe geschoben werden kann und mit dem entsprechenden fluiddichten Anschlussstück, welches an dieser Stelle plaziert ist, zusammengefügt werden kann, wodurch eine kontinuierliche Umhüllung gebildet wird, welche die gesamte Antriebswelle von der Turbinenanordnung bis zu der Stelle umgibt, wo die Schneidkopf/Antriebswellenanordnung aus dem Ende des Katheters im Inneren des Körpers des Patienten austritt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif mécanique rotatif capable de découper de manière différenciée des dépôts anormaux par l'intérieur de vaisseaux d'un patient comprenant un ensemble fraise/arbre d'entraînement relié à un ensemble de turbine de module de poussée (34) utilisant un moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide comprend une paire de dents symétriques qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement (14, 20) et un tube qui coulisse et verrouille à ajustement fin (24), lequel tube qui coulisse et verrouille peut se déplacer de manière à lui permettre de coulisser sur les dents qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement pour former une liaison complète qui peut recevoir une charge dans les deux directions de rotation et axiale.

2. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les dents symétriques qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement (14, 20) qui forment les extrémités proximale et distale du moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide sont formées à partir d'un tube à paroi mince.

3. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les dents symétriques qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement (14, 20) qui forment le moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide sont fixées aux extrémités de la partie d'ensemble de fraise/arbre d'entraînement du dispositif et de la partie d'ensemble de turbine du module de poussée du dispositif, respectivement, au moyen de soudures au laser.

4. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le tube qui coulisse et verrouille (24) est doté d'une prise de tube coulissante amovible (26) pour permettre à un opérateur de déplacer facilement le tube qui coulisse et verrouille jusqu'à la position verrouillée.

5. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 2, dans lequel chacune des dents qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement, qui forment des extrémités proximale et distale du moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide, sont également munies d'un moyen d'arrêt (16, 22) destiné à limiter le déplacement du tube qui coulisse et verrouille (24).

6. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 1, dans lequel :

l'extrémité distale de l'arbre d'entraînement raccordable/déconnectable est également munie d'un cathéter entourant l'arbre d'entraînement et présentant à son extrémité un raccord du type étanche aux fluides, et

l'extrémité proximale de l'arbre d'entraînement raccordable/déconnectable (10) est dotée d'un raccord du type étanche aux fluides correspondant qui est situé à l'extrémité de l'ensemble du module de poussée (34) et entoure l'extrémité proximale de l'arbre d'entraînement de sorte que, lorsque les deux dents qui s'accouplent et se verrouillent mutuellement (14, 20) sont raccordées et que le tube qui coulisse et verrouille (24) est placé dans la position verrouillée et après l'enlèvement de la prise de tube coulissante amovible (26), le raccord étanche aux fluides à l'extrémité du cathéter peut être glissé vers l'avant en direction de l'extrémité de l'ensemble de turbine du module de poussée et accouplé au raccord étanche aux fluides correspondant situé à ce point, en formant ainsi une enceinte continue entourant tout l'arbre d'entraînement depuis l'ensemble de turbine jusqu'au point où l'ensemble fraise/arbre d'entraînement émerge de l'extrémité du cathéter à l'intérieur du corps du patient.

7. Dispositif mécanique rotatif capable de découper de manière différenciée des dépôts anormaux par l'intérieur de vaisseaux d'un patient comprenant un ensemble de fraise/arbre d'entraînement relié à un ensemble de turbine de module de poussée (34) utilisant un moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide comprend :

un élément proximal (103) comportant des sections proximale et distale, la section proximale (107) étant reliée au module de poussée et la section distale formant un élément d'insertion (111),

un élément distal (105) comportant des sections proximale et distale, la section proximale comportant une ouverture et la section distale (115) comprenant une lumière (119) en communication de fluide avec ladite ouverture et un élément coulissant (117),

   dans lequel l'élément d'insertion (111) est reçu dans ladite ouverture et l'élément coulissant (117) peut être rapproché afin de retenir ledit élément d'insertion à l'intérieur de ladite ouverture.

8. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la section proximale de l'élément distal (105) présente une ou plusieurs fentes s'étendant de manière distale de ladite ouverture, et des bords autour de ladite ouverture sont reçus dans une zone en creux de l'élément proximal.

9. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide comprend une paire d'éléments ovoïdes s'ajustant réciproquement (103, 105) et un tube qui coulisse et verrouille à ajustement fin (117), lequel tube qui coulisse et verrouille, coulisse sur les éléments ovoïdes joints afin de former une liaison complète qui peut recevoir une charge dans les deux directions de rotation et axiale.

10. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les éléments ovoïdes (103, 105) qui forment les extrémités proximale et distale du moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide sont formés à partir d'un tube à paroi mince.

11. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les éléments ovoïdes s'ajustant mutuellement (103, 105) sont fixés aux extrémités de la partie d'ensemble de fraise/arbre d'entraînement du dispositif et de la partie d'ensemble de turbine de module de poussée (34) du dispositif, respectivement, au moyen de soudures au laser.

12. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le tube qui coulisse et verrouille (117) est muni d'une prise de tube coulissante amovible destinée à permettre à un opérateur de déplacer facilement le tube qui coulisse et verrouille dans la position verrouillée.

13. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel chacun des éléments ovoïdes s'ajustant mutuellement (103, 105) qui forment les extrémités proximale et distale du moyen de raccordement/déconnexion rapide sont également munis d'un moyen d'arrêt destiné à limiter le déplacement du tube qui coulisse et verrouille.

14. Dispositif mécanique rotatif selon la revendication 9, dans lequel
   l'extrémité distale de l'arbre d'entraînement raccordable/déconnectable est également munie d'un cathéter entourant l'arbre d'entraînement, comportant à son extrémité un raccord du type étanche aux fluides, et
   l'extrémité proximale de l'arbre d'entraînement raccordable/déconnectable est munie d'un raccord du type étanche aux fluides correspondant qui est situé à l'extrémité de l'ensemble de module de poussée et entoure l'extrémité proximale de l'arbre d'entraînement, de sorte que, lorsque les deux éléments ovoïdes sont raccordés et que le moyen qui coulisse et verrouille est placé dans la position verrouillée, et après l'enlèvement de la prise coulissante amovible, le raccord étanche aux fluides à l'extrémité du cathéter peut être glissé vers l'avant en direction de l'extrémité de l'ensemble de turbine du module de poussée et raccordé à un raccord étanche aux fluides correspondant situé à ce point, en formant ainsi une enceinte continue entourant tout l'arbre d'entraînement depuis l'ensemble de turbine jusqu'au point où l'ensemble fraise/arbre d'entraînement émerge de l'extrémité du cathéter à l'intérieur du corps du patient.

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